My mother had written to the show in hopes of getting me some help. At the time, an injury I had experienced at work on top of my other health problems, had caused me to simply walking straight and tall with a cane to barely being able to stand with a walker. The show answered her letter on May 10. (I remember that so vividly because when Mom called to inform me what was going on, she asked me " How would you like to spend your birthday in Los Angeles? " ) By the time I had gotten packed and over to my parents home, the plans had changed. I still got to go, but a few weeks later.  

The day after we arrived in LA was taping day. I was already sore from the plane ride, swimming in the hotel's pool and sleeping in a strange bed. They taped 2 or 3 shows in one day and the one prior to mine was going long. About half-way though that show Mom and I asked if there was a place where I could lie down. (The green room where I was waiting was full to the hilt!) The stage manager said yes and put me in a dressing room right next to Jay Leno's set. I didn't get to see Jay but I did see the Dancing Itos for that day. Kevin Eubanks and the band sounded great in there too. The only draw back to that room was: I had to share it with a narcaleptic dog. 
(By-the-way, the stage we used is the same one that Johnny Carson used to tape The Tonight Show on, Jay Leno tapes it across the hall.)  

When my turn came I met a man by the name of Dennis Adams. He is internationally known for his healing skills. He also has an office in a southern Oregon hospital in their alternative healing department. In just the what I believe was 15 mins or less he had me standing up straight! I couldn't believe it! When I agreed to go I thought it would at least be a chance to go to LA. I'd never been there before. During the taping Dennis warned people that he can't always help them. That some disablities are just part of who they are, and that they need to learn from the expirence. For me, I was half and half. My hip problem is a lesson, my back problem isn't.  

The prodution company was very nice to all their guests. A couple of ladies who taped with us that day had plans to go to House of Blues, so when the day was done our shuttle driver dropped them off and made fairly sure that they were not stranded there. Then gave the rest of us a little tour of downtown LA.  

The day after the taping, Mom and went to Universal Studios. Because we got lost we didn't get to spend as much time there as we hoped to. I got to see the Blues Brothers and go on the tram ride. Before seeing Mr. Adams the bouncing and shaking of the tram ride would have made me miserable. I enjoyed the ride so much I want to go back.  

When Mom and I got back, my father had to pick us up from town. I had gotten into the habit, from using the walker for over a year, of turning the walker around and sitting on the cross bar whenever I got tired and there was no other place to sit. That is what I was doing when Dad drove up. As he got out of the car, I stood up and walked to him with no help at all. It was the first time I remember seeing my father cry. Once I got to him, he gave me a gentle hug. He still afraid of hurting me. When I told him he could squeeze me tighter because I didn't hurt anymore, another wave of tears came down his face as he squeezed me tight to him. Mom carried the walker to the car.